Round 1 - Waratahs vs Hurricanes @ Brookvale - Saturday 16 February 2019

[Blackadder]

http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/02/13/super-rugby-waratahs-team-hurricanes-brookvale-oval

side is up

1. Harry Johnson-Holmes​

2. Damien Fitzpatrick​

3. Sekope Kepu​

4. Jed Holloway​

5. Rob Simmons​

6. Ned Hanigan​

7. Michael Hooper​

8. Jack Dempsey​

9 .Jake Gordon​

10. Bernard Foley​

11. Curtis Rona​

12. Karmichael Hunt​

13. Adam Ashley-Cooper​

14. Alex Newsome​

15. Israel Folau​

Reserves​

16. Tolu Latu​

17. Rory O’Connor​

18. Chris Talakai​

19. Lachlan Swinton​

20. Will Miller​

21. Mitch Short​

22. Mack Mason​

23. Cam Clark​

 

[Blackadder]

http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/02/13/super-rugby-waratahs-team-hurricanes-brookvale-oval



side is up

1. Harry Johnson-Holmes​

2. Damien Fitzpatrick​

3. Sekope Kepu​

4. Jed Holloway​

5. Rob Simmons​

6. Ned Hanigan​

7. Michael Hooper​

8. Jack Dempsey​

9 .Jake Gordon​

10. Bernard Foley​

11. Curtis Rona​

12. Karmichael Hunt​

13. Adam Ashley-Cooper​

14. Alex Newsome​

15. Israel Folau​

Reserves​

16. Tolu Latu​

17. Rory O’Connor​

18. Chris Talakai​

19. Lachlan Swinton​

20. Will Miller​

21. Mitch Short​

22. Mack Mason​

23. Cam Clark​

No le Reoux Roets or beale

 

[Blackadder]

Not impressed with the bench. Very inexperienced. Hopefully Rory has improved his scrummaging ability

I am hoping for a win

 

[Blackadder]

Swinton must be lock cover. Hoping for a big year from him

 

[Silverado]

Swinton must be lock cover. Hoping for a big year from him

I hope he goes well too. A good fit on the bench, Hanigan could also move to lock and leave Lachlan at 6 which imho is his best spot, but he can play lock at a pinch

 

[Derpus]

Canes clear favourites. Got my tickets though, should be fun.

 

[Froggy]

Roets has a concussion issue, surprised Beale wasn't at least on the bench, I haven't heard he's carrying an injury. I'm guessing, as Silverado said, Hanigan is the cover for lock, with Swinton to come on at 6. I like the side, sure the reserve props are very inexperienced, but I guess with both Robbo and Vui out we would always have an issue.

 

[Silverado]

Roets has a concussion issue, surprised Beale wasn't at least on the bench, I haven't heard he's carrying an injury. I'm guessing, as Silverado said, Hanigan is the cover for lock, with Swinton to come on at 6. I like the side, sure the reserve props are very inexperienced, but I guess with both Robbo and Vui out we would always have an issue.

Reports in the press is that Beale is being rested. Strange call when you consider that we have Sunwolves next week and then a bye..Talakai is a beast at scrum time but lacks a bit in open play. O’connor Is the opposite but I hope they step up. Good luck boys

 

[fatprop]

My issues with Hunt as a defender go back to his Reds/Wallabies days. I have seen him make some very embarrassing misses in the past.

Nevertheless, as FP says, he is probably still the best option for the Tahs. Certainly a big step up on Beale.

Aggressive defenders miss some, it comes with the package

 

[southsider]

Reports in the press is that Beale is being rested. Strange call when you consider that we have Sunwolves next week and then a bye..Talakai is a beast at scrum time but lacks a bit in open play. O’connor Is the opposite but I hope they step up. Good luck boys

If the wallabies are going down the same path as AB’s and saying major wallabies must be rested 2 games it kinda makes sense though, miss this game where everyone is rusty and anything could happen into the Sunwolves next week, followed by a bye and that’s his “resting” done for the year and he can get on with super rugby

 

[Derpus]

Aggressive defenders miss some, it comes with the package

As long as he knows when you shoot up, and when to stand in the line.

 

[Braveheart81]

A little surprised Beale hasn't been named on the bench, but if you're not going to start him this week then getting one of his rest weeks out of the way in lieu of him playing 30 minutes or less probably makes sense.

 

[Derpus]

Be interesting to see how Hunt goes as a second playmaker.

 

[Up the Guts]

Can you really call it being rested if hasn’t played since November? I’m all for managing workloads but this just seems like box ticking.

 

[Braveheart81]

Can you really call it being rested if hasn’t played since November? I’m all for managing workloads but this just seems like box ticking.

I agree, but there's probably also the consideration that with a shorter preparation, there's a higher risk playing in this game than when he's had longer to prepare.

 

[Derpus]

Well considering everyone is writing the Tahs off because of said boxes, i'm glad its being ticked now and not at the meaty end of the season.

 

[southsider]

Can you really call it being rested if hasn’t played since November? I’m all for managing workloads but this just seems like box ticking.

im being a bit cynical here but i think it's 100% just box ticking, the AUS super teams don't really care about the wallabies, they just want whats best for them (rightly or wrongly)

I wouldn't have been surprised if they rested all their major wallabies in one hit out of the gates in rd 1+2. Round 1 is always essentially another trial game, absolutely anything can happen in them - i'm sure Gibson would have at least thought about rolling the dice and resting KB (Kurtley Beale), Kepu (although harder given our prop stocks), Hooper, Foley, Folau all in one go

 

[Derpus]

Of all the core Wallabies in the squad i think Hooper is the one that should be rested the most.

He finally started to break down last season, and his first serious injury seemed to impact his performances. Can't rely on the guy to play every minute of every match for club and country every single year.

 

[wamberal]

I for one am delighted that KB (Kurtley Beale) will not have to go head to head with Laumape.

 

[Braveheart81]

HURRICANES (15-1): Jordie Barrett, Vince Aso, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Fletcher Smith, TJ Perenara (c), Gareth Evans, Ardie Savea, Reed Prinsep, Liam Mitchell, James Blackwell, Jeff To’omaga-Allen, Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Eves
Reserves: Dane Coles, Xavier Numia, Ben May, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Finlay Christie, James Marshall, Wes Goosen